KentOnline

In today’s podcast, we speak to the owners of a Kent animal sanctuary, who’ve been refused planning permission to stay open.
 
Also, it’s feared delays on Kent roads could get even worse as more people try to go away for the Easter holidays. We speak to a woman who was caught up in delays on the M20 for hours.
The man who murdered primary school teacher Sabina Nessa has been jailed for life, with a minimum of 36 years. We hear from her sister and the detective in charge of the investigation.
A transgender woman from Gravesend has told the KentOnline Podcast all about her journey into team sport, which has always been a struggle for her.
Plus, in football, Gillingham take on Wycombe Wanderers tomorrow – we speak with Gills boss Neil Harris.

In today’s podcast, travel disruption is continuing at the Port of Dover and the surrounding areas.We speak to DFDS Seaways about how they’re coping with increased demand. We also discuss the long queues with a lorry driver stuck on the A20.Also, we hear from a former P&O ferries worker who is suing the company.
New research shows Kent has the third longest driving test backlog in the UK.
Plus, it’s been revealed nearly 80 vehicles have been impaled on anti-terror bollards in Canterbury, since they were installed in the city centre.

In todays podcast, we speak to the leader of Dover Council who says travel disruption at the port is unacceptable. Trevor Bartlett told the KentOnline podcast he feels sorry for business owners in the town.
Also today, a young man from Gravesend says delays to getting his provisional licence has meant he’s missed out on job opportunities and has been unable to drive his car for a year.
Residents living near the Bluewater A2 turn-off have described long-running roadworks there as “hell” – with no clear end in sight.
And, a man who’s walking round the entire coast of mainland Britain for charity has arrived in Medway.

In todays podcast, a child has died after being found near Cliffs close to Dover. 
Also today, an experienced Captain has spoken about the terrifying moment his boat went up in flames off the coast of Sheerness.
We hear from a lorry driver, who got stuck for hours in Operation Brock on the M20.
A Gravesend couple say the process of housing refugees from Ukraine needs to be urgently simplified.
And, a former car showroom in Medway has been converted into a wedding and events venue. We speak to the events manager.

Today we’ve been talking about electric cars, and the struggle one Medway man’s had charging his.
Also in this episode, an investigation is underway following a fatal stabbing in Dartford, and we hear from Kent County Council’s Senior Highways Manager about disruption on the roads cause by issues at the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel in Folkestone.
There’s a sad update on a search for a missing man from Sandwich, and a Dartford woman has been telling us about her experience with multiple sclerosis in the workplace.
Elsewhere a charity’s launching bystander training workshops to tackle street harassment, and a Maidstone councillor’s made a formal complaint after police with riot shields forced their way into her home by mistake.
Plus we ‘ve spoken to the architect behind a brand new skate park in Folkestone, which has opened just in time for the Easter holidays.
And in football, the Gillingham manager has been giving us his honest reaction to Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Sunderland.

Household bills have risen for most of us today.
The amount companies can charged for gas and electricity has gone up 54% to almost £2,000.
It’s led to fears more families could be pushed into poverty. Hear from Lauren Abbott the editor of My Kent Family and someone who works at the Swale Food and Fuel bank.
Also in today’s podcast, a Kent MP’s meeting with officials in Poland to look at the support being offered to the people of Ukraine.
Tonbridge and Malling’s Tom Tugendhat has travelled to eastern Europe, and visited a volunteer camp on the border.
A former domestic abuse victim says she was left in tears, as a thief rode off on her electric bike.
Jennifer Salter from Gillingham said the bike had helped her regain her freedom – after enduring physical and mental abuse at the hands of her former partner.
We’ve been speaking to the new man in charge of public health in Kent as free Covid testing ends.
Anjan Ghosh says it is a concern but has advice on what we can all do to reduce the spread of the virus.
A Kent teenager who built a climbing wall in her back garden during lockdown has been chosen to represent Team GB.
Hear from 17-year-old Erin McNeice who could be heading to the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
And, we’ve been catching up with Gillingham’s Vadaine Oliver ahead of their trip to Sunderland this weekend.

The family of an Aylesford woman say their grief is ‘unbearable and unimaginable’ after she died in a crash in Sussex.
Aimee Williams was one of two people killed when three vehicles collided on Monday.
Hear their tribute in full.
Also in today’s podcast, the transport secretary says P&O Ferries will be forced to “rethink” its decision to sack 800 employees.
Grant Shapps wants ports, including Dover, to refuse access to ships carrying workers paid below the minimum wage.
Hear what he’s had to say in the commons.
It’s the final day to be able to get hold of free Covid tests in Kent.
From tomorrow, if you think you’ve got coronavirus and want to do a test, you’ll have to pay for a lateral flow kit – we’ve been speaking to Medway GP Dr Julian Spinks.
Find out why people living in part of Canterbury are keeping their doors shut.
We have the latest on the crazy weather to hit Kent.
And, Oti Mabuse has been chatting about her show that’s coming to the county this summer.
‘I am here’ is a direct translation of the former Strictly pro’s name and pays tribute to where she grew up in South Africa.

Police have once again put a Rochester nightclub’s licence under review following a number of incidents including alleged drink spiking.Back in 2016, Casino Rooms was said to be the source of more than 40% of violent crime in Medway.
Hear from the mum of a 19-year-old woman who was told to leave the club after being accused of being drunk.The venue is a member of the Safer Medway Partnership and gained recognition from the National Policing Awards for safety in December last year.They’ve issued a response to the review and say they’re ‘deeply saddened’ by Kent Police’s decision.Also in today’s podcast, a man caught on camera flytipping household and garden waste near Gravesend has been jailed – a year after he spat at a parking warden and claimed to have Covid.Hear the moment that confrontation took place.A former midwife from Kent has spoken after a shocking report revealed more than 200 babies could have survived if they had received better care in hospitals.An inquiry found staff at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals repeated mistakes and failed to learn lessons over a 20 year period.Hear from Piroska Cavell from Whitstable.There’s more reaction today to news plans for a massive theme park in north Kent have been withdrawn.We told you yesterday how the people behind the £2.5 billion London Resort project are blaming concerns over transport and wildlife on the Swanscombe Peninsula – we’ve heard from nearby businesses.And, the man who plays Winston Churchill in Peaky Blinders has been chatting about filming revenge thriller Bull in Dartford.Neil Maskell grew up on the Kent / London border and plays a former enforcer who returns home after 10 years in a bid to find his missing son.

Plans for a massive theme park in north Kent have been withdrawn.
London Resort on the Swanscombe peninsula had been dubbed the UK’s answer to Disneyland.
Green campaigners have reacted to the news as the people behind it say they are still 100% committed to the project.
Also in today’s podcast, a P&O worker from Dover has been describing how he and his former colleagues are feeling 12 days after being sacked without notice.
Lee Davison had worked for the company for 30 years.
He’s spoken out as a second P&O ship is detained after failing safety checks.
A Sittingbourne man who has just returned from an aid mission to Ukraine has told us about his experience.
Brian Grove headed to the country to help get people to safety in Poland.
While he was there he met Marta who has also been describing the very latest situation in her country.
We’re being asked what we think about plans for a massive bike factory in Ashford.
Brompton want to open their European headquarters in the town.
And find out which Rainham pub has had a bit of a makeover as it tries to overcome its “unsavoury reputation”.

It’s now 11 days since P&O Ferries sailings between Dover and Calais were suspended after they sacked almost 800 staff.
Today, two of the company’s rivals are having talks with minister amid concerns of chaos at ports over Easter.
Hear from our business editor Chris Britcher on how legislation is being used in a bid to force the company to rehire their workers.
Also in today’s podcast, a crunch meeting this week could decide if a project dubbed Kent’s answer to Disneyland will ever be built.
It’s 10 years since the idea of London Resort on the Swanscombe peninsula was first announced – we’ve been speaking to Dartford MP Gareth Johnson.
People living on an estate in Maidstone are angry about an experimental closure of a busy junction.
Cranborne Avenue on the Shepway estate, leads onto the A229 Loose Road but the route is being blocked to traffic – hear from residents.
A Kent woman has told the podcast she wishes new changes to divorce laws had happened earlier.
From next Wednesday, couples will be allowed to leave each other without forcing blame – meaning they can split more amicably.
‘Shelley’ says it would have made her divorce process a lot easier.
And, hear from the Gillingham boss and one of the weekend goalscorers following their 2-1 win over Accrington Stanley.
The result means the Gills are now four points clear of the league one relegation zone.